Programming note: For comprehensive Seahawks-Raiders postgame coverage, tune in to SportsNet Central tonight at 10:30 and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area

Raiders quarterback of the recent past Terrelle Pryor was always a fan favorite during his time in Silver and Black. On Thursday evening, he’ll return in neon green and blue.

The Seattle Seahawk should see plenty of snaps during Thursday night’s exhibition as he fights for a regular-season roster spot. Pryor requested a trade this offseason and was granted one to the Seahawks for a seventh-round pick that became safety Jonathan Dowling.

He’s the No. 3 quarterback on squad that generally keeps two, so this game will be critical if he hopes to force his way onto the squad.

That will ramp up the intensity. So will playing a team that drafted him, started him and was more than willing to let him go.

"Now I have an opportunity to go play against some [former] teammates and friends and some good players,” told ESPN Seahawks reporter Terry Blount. “That's what I look forward to."

Pryor declined an interview request from CSN Bay Area this week.

The end of Pryor’s tenure wasn’t pretty. Without rehashing every detail, he started the first eight games of 2013 before injury and ineffectiveness prompted the Raiders to go with Matt McGloin. He started the final game, his agent at the time said some outlandish things about Raiders head coach Dennis Allen and his new one requested a trade this offseason.

That would seem to ramp up the intensity of an otherwise mundane preseason affair. The Raiders said they’re looking forward to playing against Pryor, but it’s for professional reasons. They’ll face New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, a fleet-footed passer in Pryor’s mold.

“We’re going to face some of that stuff Week 1 against the Jets,” Allen said. “So I think really with all three of their quarterbacks – talking about Seattle – I would anticipate we’re going to see some of the read-options tuff. They’ve done it throughout the preseason. If we get some of those plays, that’ll be good experience for us going into Week 1 versus the Jets.”

Pyror has struggled some this preseason, looking much the same as he did with the Raiders: a real running threat who struggles in the passing game.

Pryor is 10-for-22 passing for 147 yards and two interceptions with a 29.9 passer rating this preseason. He also has 12 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown, including a 44-yard TD run late in Week 2 against San Diego.

“He’s still extremely athletic,” Allen said. “He can make a lot of plays in the pocket, moving around in the pocket, creating. They’re doing some things with him with the read-option game, which presents a big challenge. Obviously, his speed is something that we’re certainly concerned about. So he’s shown a lot of the same things that we saw when he was here.”